Mediterraneo Restaurant Review

: Along Hermosa Beach Pier, Mediterraneo is one of the more discerning diners’ best options among a smattering of frat bars and drinking dens. Though the space itself is large, most tables have an intimate ambience with dark lighting, while a long bar runs the entire length of the dining room. Behind this bar, a tap wall showcases 30 draft beers featuring hard-to-find and regularly rotating microbrews. There’s also a varied selection of wines from Spain, Italy and France to pair with the Mediterranean-inspired tapas. To start, fava bean hummus sings of springtime and has a sweeter taste. Patatas are a traditional version, with fried Yukon Gold potatoes and a smoked romesco dipping sauce. Crispy crostini is layered with intensely flavored smoked trout, anchovies and capers for the requisite salt bomb of the meal, while a kale Caesar salad has a strong garlic-scented dressing and an oozing soft-boiled egg. Meat options include grilled lamb skewers as well as a beef short rib that falls apart with a comforting foundation of creamy Fontina polenta. Bread pudding, though basic, is a rich indulgence and caramel pot de crème has a well-laced balance of sweet and salty.